In light of his past, why would Big Ben put himself in that situation last Friday morning?

By Jemele Hill
ESPN.com

Let's begin with the usual platitudes: Ben Roethlisberger is innocent until proved guilty. So far, the two-time Super Bowl champion has not been charged with a crime, though police in a small Georgia college town are continuing to investigate the allegation that Roethlisberger sexually assaulted a 20-year-old college student in a bar bathroom early Friday morning.

And with that out of the way, let me pose the question that has plagued many of us since hearing the news that Roethlisberger is the subject of sexual assault allegations for the second time in eight months: Why is a 28-year-old quarterback with a $100 million contract putting himself at risk by socializing and drinking in a club with college kids?

Roethlisberger can be trusted in the waning seconds with the game on the line, but after this most recent accusation it's an understatement to suggest that his judgment in real life might not be nearly as reliable.

He's poised and prepared on the field, and he produces. But Ben Roethlisberger's judgment off the field has been questionable.

I am not one of those people who believes athletes should have to stay confined to their homes, but after a hotel worker served Roethlisberger with a civil suit last summer accusing him of raping her at a Lake Tahoe hotel in 2008, he should have been smart enough to realize the rules have changed for him.

In other words, the first incident officially put bar-hopping in Milledgeville, Ga., on his "to-don't" list.

I understand that Roethlisberger is single and that clubbing isn't illegal, but if he couldn't see that mixing alcohol, college women, his celebrity and the nightclub scene was courting disaster, he might not be worthy of being the franchise quarterback for one of the most well-run organizations in professional sports.

I know that sounds harsh. If you hold a magnifying glass to Roethlisberger's track record, though, there are definitely some red flags pointing to the fact that he still needs to grow up. Until now, he's received the benefit of the doubt about his maturity. But that officially ended when this criminal investigation began.

It can't be forgotten that Roethlisberger, the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl, nearly killed himself in a motorcycle accident in June 2006 because he wasn't wearing a helmet, which his then-coach Bill Cowher had insisted he do. Roethlisberger didn't even have a valid Pennsylvania motorcycle license at the time.

That, supposedly, was his wake-up call to become more responsible. When he left the hospital after suffering serious injuries, he said in a statement, "In the past few days, I've gained a new perspective on life."

If that perspective was intended to be mature and enlightened, it apparently didn't stick.

Even with so much to lose, Roethlisberger has continued to behave too much like a frat boy and not enough like the face of his organization.

He has a reputation in Pittsburgh for trying to skip out on his restaurant tabs, according to news reports. There is also a picture of Roethlisberger on the Internet wearing a T-shirt that says "Drink Like A Champion."

And the drink isn't milk.

Several people who saw Roethlisberger out in Milledgeville the other night reported that he bought himself and others shots called "O-Bombs," a flavored rum-and-energy drink mixture. Inside the club where the assault allegedly occurred, according to a report from ESPN's Kelly Naqi, Roethlisberger and his friends were inviting women they didn't know into their VIP area and offering them free drinks.

A good night if your name is Ben Smith. Totally idiotic if you're Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

There's a reason you never hear about Tom Brady partying in bars or clubs, or have yet to see any unflattering photos of him on the Internet. That isn't to say Brady is perfect, but he seems to understand that he's a brand worth millions and that he has too much at stake to put himself in situations in which he'd be the one who loses out. Derek Jeter is Mr. Social and a serial dater, but you've never heard his name associated with any controversy, despite living in New York City for more than a decade.

Roethlisberger apparently didn't understand that his high-profile status mixed with the pending civil case meant he could no longer afford to maintain social habits that mirror those of Bluto from "Animal House." At the minimum, he should have realized he became a potential target the moment that civil case was filed.

In that case, Roethlisberger has admitted that he and Andrea McNulty -- the woman who filed the civil case against him in Nevada -- had consensual sex. McNulty's lawyer has already indicated to TMZ that he will be watching the developments in Georgia very closely.

Roethlisberger's reputation has taken a major hit, and I wouldn't blame the Rooney family if they're having second thoughts today about the $102 million investment they made in him. A good quarterback is supposed to see the entire field and anticipate plays before they happen. It seems as if this quarterback's vision leaves much to be desired.

hawaiiansteel

03-09-2010, 03:11 AM

this all depends on whether you think Big Ben or Little Ben was doing the thinking...

when i was 28, i'm not sure my big head was doing the thinking at all times either.

California-Steel

03-09-2010, 05:11 AM

this all depends on whether you think Big Ben or Little Ben was doing the thinking...

when i was 28, i'm not sure my big head was doing the thinking at all times either.
It doesn't matter what we think. All that matters is that Ben is a target and he must use restraint no matter how much his hormones pop. 18, 28, 108 does not matter. I am sure you did not have a job for a company getting paid $100 mill at 28 either.

Even 50 year old senators do dumb things and get caught and pay the price. Age matters not. Just ask John Edwards and a host of other political leaders.

Ben got a second chance and blew it, innocent or not.

Oviedo

03-09-2010, 08:32 AM

Ben wasn't thinking. As great as he is on the field off the field he has a serious common sense issue. He isn't a college boy anymore. Act like an adult.

stlrz d

03-09-2010, 08:42 AM

this all depends on whether you think Big Ben or Little Ben was doing the thinking...

when i was 28, i'm not sure my big head was doing the thinking at all times either.
It doesn't matter what we think. All that matters is that Ben is a target and he must use restraint no matter how much his hormones pop. 18, 28, 108 does not matter. I am sure you did not have a job for a company getting paid $100 mill at 28 either.

Even 50 year old senators do dumb things and get caught and pay the price. Age matters not. Just ask John Edwards and a host of other political leaders.

Ben got a second chance and blew it, innocent or not.

How many of those political leaders were single when they got caught?

Chadman

03-09-2010, 09:36 AM

ALLEGED....ACCUSED...

Not CONVICTED...PROOF...

Saying Ben acted irresponsibly when there is no proof of it is, well, irresponsible on those willing to make that statement.

You simply cannot expect anyone to completely shelter themselves from contact with the outside world on the off chance they might get accused of something.

If so, if that is what we demand, then what the hell is the point of trying to be a successful athlete in this world? Sure- you can be a favourite with people on Sunday, but you sure as Hell better be at home in Bed Monday through to Saturday so that we don't have to think you might have the possibility of human failings...

BradshawsHairdresser

03-09-2010, 10:00 AM

ALLEGED....ACCUSED...

Not CONVICTED...PROOF...

Saying Ben acted irresponsibly when there is no proof of it is, well, irresponsible on those willing to make that statement.

You simply cannot expect anyone to completely shelter themselves from contact with the outside world on the off chance they might get accused of something.

Where did the article say Ben had to completely shelter himself from contact with the outside world?

I agree with you, innocent of any crime until proven guilty. But I agree with the author of the article, Ben appears to be lacking in the area of his off-the-field judgment. I hope it doesn't come to it, but Steelers' ownership may well decide to pull their big investment in Big Ben.

Chadman

03-09-2010, 10:06 AM

ALLEGED....ACCUSED...

Not CONVICTED...PROOF...

Saying Ben acted irresponsibly when there is no proof of it is, well, irresponsible on those willing to make that statement.

You simply cannot expect anyone to completely shelter themselves from contact with the outside world on the off chance they might get accused of something.

Where did the article say Ben had to completely shelter himself from contact with the outside world?

I agree with you, innocent of any crime until proven guilty. But I agree with the author of the article, Ben appears to be lacking in the area of his off-the-field judgment. I hope it doesn't come to it, but Steelers' ownership may well decide to pull their big investment in Big Ben.

It doesn't say he needs to, but if we are going to label him as having poor judgement every time he goes out, I'm saying there is no situation in the 'outside world' that can't lead to an accusation. The only way to protect himself is to have no contact with anyone. Only then will some people think Ben shows proper judgement.

Answer this- read the chronolgy of events for the night of the accusation. Then, remove the accusation from the nights events. And then ask yourself if Ben showed poor judgement, based on the other situations he was involved in that night. If the accusation proves to be false, what has Ben done wrong, exactly?

Ghost

03-09-2010, 10:17 AM

I’m amazed that otherwise intelligent people on this board completely stick their heads in the sand when it comes to Ben not using good judgment. He’s not you and I when we were 28 (or if you’re in your 20’s now). He’s not an anonymous guy trying to pick up tail. He’s a celebrity and public figure – lots of perks but also restraints. He’s got a target on him, which has now grown exponentially.

The Steelers are known for the Rooney’s (one of Football’s finest families), championships, stability, as a keystone franchise in the NFL, solid personnel – on and off the field. This is just nonsense. Ben is lucky beyond belief. He was born with a golden lottery ticket in his hand – size, athletic ability. He’s got 2 Super Bowls, he’s financially set for life, with the real possibility of another 50+ million dollar contract, and he’s only 28. He’ll spend the rest of his life in luxury. Get your head out of your a$$.

feltdizz

03-09-2010, 12:51 PM

Ghost, this blind support of Ben and his judgement is scary. No one is saying Ben can't live.. but he can't live like we do. People keep comparing their lives to Ben like they get hounded for autographs and won a SB in dramatic fashion. Funny how none of them have been accused of sexual assault or had a chick try to take their thousands because they were a target.

I know I will get flamed for this... but here it goes.

Ben loves BA and wants to keep him around. A ton of people hate BA but refuse to blame Ben for vouching for the guy or Ben's choices on the field that result in incompletions or sacks. They applaud the good but lump the bad on the OC. I think most of those fans will never see Ben making a mistake or having poor judgement off the field. He can ride without a helmet(it's no illegal), he can have sex with the hotel staff(she wasn't hot but she was breathing)... and he can bar hop in a small college town with broke and under the drinking age chicks because it's legal(who cares if he is connected to a civil trial with the word RAPE next to his name).

Why? Because he is just like us... and he wasn't "charged" in the first trial and it was sexual assault not rape. The "difference" in those 2 words are clearly enough to let Ben do whatever the hell he wants. Those who are disappointed in Ben don't realize he will be found innocent and this will all go away.

Sarcasm intended...

cruzer8

03-09-2010, 01:16 PM

ALLEGED....ACCUSED...

Not CONVICTED...PROOF...

Saying Ben acted irresponsibly when there is no proof of it is, well, irresponsible on those willing to make that statement.

You simply cannot expect anyone to completely shelter themselves from contact with the outside world on the off chance they might get accused of something.

Where did the article say Ben had to completely shelter himself from contact with the outside world?

I agree with you, innocent of any crime until proven guilty. But I agree with the author of the article, Ben appears to be lacking in the area of his off-the-field judgment. I hope it doesn't come to it, but Steelers' ownership may well decide to pull their big investment in Big Ben.

It doesn't say he needs to, but if we are going to label him as having poor judgement every time he goes out, I'm saying there is no situation in the 'outside world' that can't lead to an accusation. The only way to protect himself is to have no contact with anyone. Only then will some people think Ben shows proper judgement.

Answer this- read the chronolgy of events for the night of the accusation. Then, remove the accusation from the nights events. And then ask yourself if Ben showed poor judgement, based on the other situations he was involved in that night. If the accusation proves to be false, what has Ben done wrong, exactly?

To answer your last question: nothing.

There is no reason why the guy shouldn't be able to go out with friends and bodyguards to have a good time. The people who say otherwise are simply trying to act as the moral majority. I'd love to know how many of them would actually stay home given similar circumstances. They all say they would, but when you're not having poon tang thrown at you like beads off a Mardi Gras float it's awful easy to say you'd be prudent and sit home studying the old testament.

This is all about people being mad because when they put on their Steelers gear and go to the local bar to watch the game someone is going to give them a hard time about the "behavior" of Ben whether he is guilty or not. I say to those people they need to grow some thicker skin. They're not Ben. What he does in his life has no effect on them unless they let people's remarks bother them. Grow some thicker skin and quit whining like little girls already. Do us all a favor.

JTP53609

03-09-2010, 01:38 PM

ben was thinking that he wanted to get laid, and through that whether he assaulted someone or not, he has embarassed the steelers

feltdizz

03-09-2010, 01:47 PM

To answer your last question: nothing.

There is no reason why the guy shouldn't be able to go out with friends and bodyguards to have a good time. The people who say otherwise are simply trying to act as the moral majority. I'd love to know how many of them would actually stay home given similar circumstances. They all say they would, but when you're not having poon tang thrown at you like beads off a Mardi Gras float it's awful easy to say you'd be prudent and sit home studying the old testament.

This is all about people being mad because when they put on their Steelers gear and go to the local bar to watch the game someone is going to give them a hard time about the "behavior" of Ben whether he is guilty or not. I say to those people they need to grow some thicker skin. They're not Ben. What he does in his life has no effect on them unless they let people's remarks bother them. Grow some thicker skin and quit whining like little girls already. Do us all a favor.

Ben is our franchise QB.

cruzer8

03-09-2010, 02:08 PM

ben was thinking that he wanted to get laid, and through that whether he assaulted someone or not, he has embarassed the steelers

Oh no.............how will we ever recover as a franchise?

JTP53609

03-09-2010, 02:44 PM

ben was thinking that he wanted to get laid, and through that whether he assaulted someone or not, he has embarassed the steelers

Oh no.............how will we ever recover as a franchise?

yea I am not surprised that you really dont care about embrassment...

cruzer8

03-09-2010, 02:59 PM

ben was thinking that he wanted to get laid, and through that whether he assaulted someone or not, he has embarassed the steelers

Oh no.............how will we ever recover as a franchise?

yea I am not surprised that you really dont care about embrassment...

What is there to be embarrassed about? Do you know Ben? Are you related to him? Are you responsible for the Steelers drafting him? Are you Ben?

Get the idea?

JTP53609

03-09-2010, 03:46 PM

ben was thinking that he wanted to get laid, and through that whether he assaulted someone or not, he has embarassed the steelers

Oh no.............how will we ever recover as a franchise?

yea I am not surprised that you really dont care about embrassment...

What is there to be embarrassed about? Do you know Ben? Are you related to him? Are you responsible for the Steelers drafting him? Are you Ben?

Get the idea?

I am not embarassed for the individual but it puts a black eye on the organization, whether he did it or not, he has put himself in this position. I used to laugh at organizations like the raiders, cowboys, bengals etc. signing ex convits and having drama follow them all the time, now it is happening to the steelers the past 3 offseasons, between ben this and last year, and harrison the year before that. I know you and a few other people could care less and think that it does not matter just as long as he produces on the field, but I want a team that is run right and stays out of trouble, (not even mentioning jeff reed)...we have no room to laugh at the bengals now or any other team..
get MY idea?

Maybe, just maybe, we need to readjust our moral code stance in relation to other teams in the NFL?

but it's so much fun to talk about other teams felons and ignore our own. :stirpot

way more fun... :tt2

and yeah, Ray-Ray is still a murderer! :ratsuck

Ratbird suck... but I hope Ray Rays lawyer doesn't!!! :Cheers

hawaiiansteel

03-10-2010, 12:53 AM

ben was thinking that he wanted to get laid, and through that whether he assaulted someone or not, he has embarassed the steelers

Oh no.............how will we ever recover as a franchise?

yea I am not surprised that you really dont care about embrassment...

What is there to be embarrassed about? Do you know Ben? Are you related to him? Are you responsible for the Steelers drafting him? Are you Ben?

Get the idea?

I am not embarassed for the individual but it puts a black eye on the organization, whether he did it or not, he has put himself in this position. I used to laugh at organizations like the raiders, cowboys, bengals etc. signing ex convits and having drama follow them all the time, now it is happening to the steelers the past 3 offseasons, between ben this and last year, and harrison the year before that. I know you and a few other people could care less and think that it does not matter just as long as he produces on the field, but I want a team that is run right and stays out of trouble, (not even mentioning jeff reed)...we have no room to laugh at the bengals now or any other team..
get MY idea?

:Agree - so do the folks who make Big Ben Beef Jerky:

Big Ben Beef Jerky could go bye-bye

Posted by Mike Florio on March 9, 2010

Though the full impact of a second sexual assault allegation against Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisbeger remains to be determined, one of his sponsors is getting nervous.

Michael McCarthy of USA Today reports that the folks who make "Big Ben Beef Jerky" have spoken out regarding the latest development.

"It's just very concerning," PLB Sports president and CEO Ty Ballou told McCarthy. ""Ben is a single guy. He has every right to be out doing what he's doing. But when you're the quarterback of any team, especially the Steelers, you have to take extra measures. . . . Obviously, this is very concerning for all parties. This is the second time this has come out. . . .

"It's troubling," Ballou added. "You want the offseason to be quiet. You have to put yourself in a good positions. And Ben unfortunately hasn't. You even go back to the motorcycle accident. Whatever happened down there [in Georgia], I hope this will truly be the last time something like this happens. Ben's a good person. He does a lot for charity. But for his career, his fans and his family, you have to make good decisions."

California-Steel

03-10-2010, 02:10 AM

[quote=hawaiiansteel]this all depends on whether you think Big Ben or Little Ben was doing the thinking...

when i was 28, i'm not sure my big head was doing the thinking at all times either.
It doesn't matter what we think. All that matters is that Ben is a target and he must use restraint no matter how much his hormones pop. 18, 28, 108 does not matter. I am sure you did not have a job for a company getting paid $100 mill at 28 either.

Even 50 year old senators do dumb things and get caught and pay the price. Age matters not. Just ask John Edwards and a host of other political leaders.

Ben got a second chance and blew it, innocent or not.

How many of those political leaders were single when they got caught?[/quote:1756xhfj]I wasn't comparing the status of them but the age. I was letting the OP know that even old guys think with their little heads too.

NJ-STEELER

03-10-2010, 02:50 AM

what about just "big ben jerky"

that seems like it could be a big seller

hawaiiansteel

03-11-2010, 03:10 AM

Roethlisberger's hometown looks for facts

By Scott Brown, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, March 11, 2010

FINDLAY, Ohio — A tree-lined street leads into the city that is tucked in the northwest corner of the state. It yields no clues that this is the childhood home of a quarterback who won a pair of Super Bowls before his 27th birthday.

The one place in the veritable portrait of middle class America that qualifies as a public shrine to Ben Roethlisberger is Tony's Restaurant & Pub. On a wall leading into the popular eatery that sells the "Big Ben Burger" is a framed Steelers jersey signed by Roethlisberger. Also hanging from the wall is a collage of pictures, several of which were taken in 2004 — before Roethlisberger set an NFL record by winning his first 13 starts.

Roethlisberger sports closely cropped hair and a lean physique in those photos. The clean-cut, All-American look is at odds with the image that has emerged following the second sexual assault accusation brought against Roethlisberger in the past nine months.

"What he's really guilty of is making some bad decisions," said Tony Iriti, who coached Roethlisberger in football and baseball growing up and now lives in Roethlisberger's old house. "It's really tough because I know Ben. To hear these kinds of accusations ..."

The latest one came last week following a night of bar-hopping in a Georgia college town, not far from where Roethlisberger owns an offseason home. The investigation could lead to criminal charges and comes while a civil suit filed last July against Roethlisberger in Nevada is still pending.

What hasn't taken place in Findlay — Roethlisberger moved here with his parents while still in grade school and became a three-sport star — is a rush to judgment, Iriti said.

The town's muted response may best be reflected in The Courier, Findlay's newspaper. A day after law enforcement officials in Milledgeville, Ga., announced they would continue to investigate the alleged incident, The Courier ran the story on the front page — of its sports section.

Wednesday, the newspaper didn't carry any new developments in the Roethlisberger story.

"Here, people don't talk about it," said Iriti, who served one term as Findlay's mayor starting in 2004. "People here have very strong faith. Wait until all of the facts come out."

That is not to say the subject has been taboo here.

Dick Hipsher, a lifelong Findlay resident, said he and his morning coffee friends have talked about Roethlisberger's situation. The sentiment among the group is not much different than in Pittsburgh — most at least agree that Roethlisberger has too much to lose to put himself in situations that can cost him everything.

"I said: 'You know when you see this happen, I consider it a lack of intelligence,' " said Hipsher, a retired purchaser.

Ask people who know Roethlisberger here, and they'll tell you he is an unrelenting competitor. They'll also talk about how Roethlisberger and his sister, Carlee, were raised right by their parents Ken and Brenda. Ken played college football at Georgia Tech but was the antithesis of the Little League parent.

He often watched Ben's baseball games from the outfield, friends say, so he could stay in the background.

There also are stories, just as in Pittsburgh, about two sides of Roethlisberger.

In November, Roethlisberger donated signed items for a fundraiser held for a Findlay man who has since died of pancreatic cancer. Roethlisberger also stages an annual celebrity basketball game at Findlay High School — there doesn't seem to be a lot of optimism that it will happen this year — with proceeds going to the athletic department.

Roethlisberger's foundation is a part of an initiative to build a complex with four practice fields and a locker room for Findlay's youth football program.

"He's a good kid," Iriti said.

Iriti is still close friends with the Roethlisbergers; his son and Ben Roethlisberger went to Miami (Ohio) on football scholarships.

Findlay, which carries itself with a small-town sensibility and actually has a restaurant named "Mom and Pop's," doesn't offer much refuse from the fame that trails Roethlisberger as closely as his shadow.

When Roethlisberger is back in Findlay and he goes to Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant, assistant manager Tim Bethel said the place fills up as soon as word spreads that he is there. The same is true of Tony's, which sells the hamburgers named in Roethlisberger's honor and consist of two large meat patties, lettuce, tomatoes and the house barbecue sauce. Cheese comes with the burger for an extra seven cents.

Connie Tagliapietra, an assistant manager at Tony's, said Roethlisberger is good about signing for fans when he's at the restaurant.

"I really like him," said Tagliapietra, who has known Roethlisberger since he was in high school.

Tagliapietra said she tunes out any talk she hears about Roethlisberger's latest troubles. Bethel hopes that Roethlisberger learns from them.

"When you are in his situation, there's a time to go home," said Bethel, adding that Roethlisberger has never been a problem when he has visited Buffalo Wild Wings. "When you're famous, you've just go to know when to call it quits. Maybe he needs to grow up a little bit and deal with his fame in other ways."